Manure spreader and feed mechanism therefor



ma. zu' 1924.

' V3,512,448 A 'NJ-l. BLOQM M-ANURE SPREDER AND FEED MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Nov. 1o. 1921 '4 sheets-sheet 1y A TTHNEYS N. H. BLooM MANURE SPREADER- AND FEED MECHANISM THERFOR Filed Nw; 1o. -192:

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS' Patented 0st. 21, 1924.

i UNITED si Aires HNRY @den et Nie-Save .teva eelfia TURING co., or NASHUA, Iowa; 'A GORPOBATIN or 'iowa'.

minar ortica, 1

ppution inea november 1o, 1921. serial 1ro/514,220.l

To all whom z't mai] conce/rn: y

Be it kno-wn thatl I, Nro'rrLAs H, BLooM',

a citihzen of the United States, andy a resident of Nashua, in the county of v.Chickasaw and State of-lowa, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in Manure Spreadersv and Feed Mechanism Therefor, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to manure spreaders of the type 'employing an endless conve or or belt and a ratchet mechanism for operating the 'same to feed manure along Athe bed to 'a rotary beater or distributer and has particular reference toV thefront portion of the bed of the box the manner of attaching saine to the front axle, the connections of theru'nning gear with the front and rear axles, and to the ratchet feed mechanism; and also to auxiliary spreader, means for spreading laterally over a wide area beyond the width-of thedistributer. jr.In machines of this character, various variable speed mechanisms, have heretofore been employed for feeding manure to the "distributing means fast or slowly as desired, so as tospread the requisite amount of manure over a given soilarea, but these mechanismshave either been too costly for a low; priced fertilizer-or distributer, or, ifuof cheaper construction, have not been able to give the desired steady and continuous feed.

The primary object, therefore, A.of the invention' is to provide a feed mechanism ofv the ratchet typey which shall be simple and.

durable inconstru'ction, capable of adjustment for a reasonably -wide range of feeds, in all of which the feed will be uniform and substantially continuous during traction of they spreader so that an even distribution. of manure'will alwaysV be obtained,V f

Another object is to provide a special form of box and connections between the same andthe running gear and the front and rear axlesf.

vAnother object is to provide an auxiliary spreadery wherebyr rthe material will be spread or scattered over a relatively Ywide area. Y

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction' and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings 1n which- Figures 1 and 1a show a sideelevation of 18 made of channel iron or steel,zandthe.in.-

a manure spreader eiiibodyin'g my improvements ,I ,i v Figure 2 is a perspective '.vievv.` `of themessential elements of the variable feed mecha-l 111S n1;r'

Figure, 3 is an enlarged verticalzsction through front port-ion of the under 'or` runningrgear of the vehicle;l l' i Figure 4 is apers'pective View the front portion `of the device showing special frn'iation of the wagon box and its connection to the front axle; l l i f lFigure 5 is a perspective vie-wof -one farm of the front box bracing memberand means for carrying the belt tightening nieans and Figure 6 is arear elevation showing-the auxiliary spreader. i VThe fertilizer. or' manure l. box'vis of tlie general lowdown type and is designatedgenerally by the reference character 10 the side-board'sll of which however1 projectfr-` wardly ahead of the manure 'space which-is" liinitedvat its front'by the inclined gatepr l1 board 1,2.V The lextreme front ends-fof vthe side boards are tapered upwardly as shown at 13 and'this `tapering effect may bese-v cured byynarrowing 'the' end'portions 13 by having the lower edges cut. on a straight oblique line as `shown inFigu-re 1.a oigonan upward curve as shown :in Fimireb 4, and these edges are to beprotecte'dzbyan angleor, Amalleable iron eastingM embracing .the 'sides and-lower edge of the boards .-13 and secured thereto, andi having .at their"ends` 4perforated lugs 15 therearllugbeirig adaptsv ed to receive the adjusting screw 16 of the.. conveyor tightening means. f i i; The sill 17 at the front end Vofthe b'ox.is

supported on a downwardly arched. vbolster.

verted crown of ,this arclris 'providedzwith a filler block 19 which rests. on a similar filler block 20 supported in thefcrown of the lower varched bolsterv or '.axletree 21, .which is also lof channeliron or steel. A liligibolt 22 passes through'. the juxtaposed .crowns j and fillingy blocks and is held inplalcetby a nut 23 on the lowerlthreadediend thereof-1; The outer ends of the axlet'reer21. are,rig-.x idly secured to bearing blocls24ainwhichtlie ioo front axle 2.5 is supported'. These .blocks .K

24 are provided with .forwardly extending? perforated ears 24a to. which are-secured the rear ends ofthe front hounds 24F... .Y I,

V:The vunder or4 running gear comprisesa;`

reach member 26 which has secured theretorearwardly diverginghounds 27 of angle iron formation to the rear ends of which are secured the metallic brackets 28 (see F ig. l), and these brackets are supported from the rear axle 29, to which is secured the star wheel cam 30 of the feed mechanism. The reach 26 is flexibly connected to the upper bolster by a brace 26e and king bolt 22, and to the lower bolster bysaid bolt and tongue extension 26a which is secured to the tongue 26b by the bolts 26".

-The'variable feed mechanism which will now be more specifically set forth includes as an essential element the star wheel cam 3()v hereinbefore mentioned, and which, as shown, includes a hub member and the radially disposed arms or tappets 31 projecting therefrom, one edge thereof being straight and the other edge curved or arcuate. Y

As stated, the cam wheel 30 is mounted on the rear axle 29 so that it has the same motion as the ground wheels 29a, which will be mounted on said axle. Y

The ratchet Wheel 32 which is' carried on the rear end roller driving the conveyor belt is of theV usual construction, as well as the conveyor belt itself, and the beater cylinder 33, hence they need no further detailedxdescription, the lupper run ofthe endless conveyor 34 traveling` rearwardly adjacent to the teeth on the said beater.

Secured to the side board 1l of the bed Vrbox is a pin 35 on which is mounted to oscillate'a three armed'lever, comprising a hub 36 mounted on the pin 35 and the arms 37, 38 and 39, the arm 39.- being provided with lateral pins or lugs 39a, the arm 37 is flexibly connected to the .rear end of a rod 40 which extends forwardly alongside the side board ll, and is flexibly connected at its forward endto the hand lever 4l disposed adj acentk and convenient to the drivers Vseat 42; the lower end of the hand lever is pivoted at 43 to thesidev board. The upper end of the hand lever has movement in a keeper which may be provided with means to hold the lever at different degrees of adjustment for regulating the'throw of the arms of the lever 36. i

Fulcrumed `on the pin 35 is a pendant lever 44 by eyes or hubs 45, at the upper end thereof, so that said lever 44 hangs in an r approximately vertical position. The body portion of the lever is curved forwardly on a suitablel arc, as'indicated at 46, and has mounted at its lower or free end a wear or friction roller 47 To the arm 38 of the leverk 36 is attached a-flink48 to the lower end of which is ilexibly connected the pawl or dog 49, the forward `end of which pawl is bifurcated or provided with the ears 50-50 which straddle or pass on opposite sides of the arcuate lever 44 and ride on the curved rib 46a. Thev rear end of the pawl 49 fits over the ratchet wheel 32, and is constructed to engage the teeth 32a thereof, `as usual with this type of pawls or dogs. The rear end of dog 49 is held normally in engagement with the ratchet wheel 32 by a coiled spring 51 one end of which is connected to said dog to pull it downwardly while the opposite end of said spring Vis connected to a finger or bell crank 52 projecting from the hub of a locking pawl 53, which is pivotally mounted on the side of the box, the nose or point 54 of said pawl resting between the teeth 32a of the ratchet wheel 32 toprevent retrograde movement of said ratchet wheel, yetby yielding, permitting the rearward rotation of said ratchet wheel, and at the same time returning the pivoted arm 44 withv roller 47 to position to be driven back by the star wheel 30. f

As the wagon is drawn over the field where it is desired to spread the load on the conveyor bed, theA hand lever 41 isl moved to such position that the lower end of lever 44, which hangs in the plane of the star cam wheel and carrying the friction roller 47 will be in the path of the armsfof said cam wheel. As the ground wheels rotate forwardly the tappets yengage,successively the friction roller and force the lower end of the pendant lever rearwardly and as said lever swings rearwardly on its fulcrum said lever will contact the pawl 49 forcing it rearwardly against the teeth of the ratchet wheel turning it through the desired space, depending on the'V location ofthe pawl with respect to the suspension link 48. rllhat is to say, if the'three arm lever 36 is oscillated by the adjusting rod 40 to throw the arm 38 downwardly, the pawl 49 will vbe moved perpendicularly downward on'the pendant lever 44 and a longer movement will be given the lever by the .tappets of. the star kcam wheel, and hence'the ratchet wheel will be rotated through an arc covered by several of its teeth. f

lf now, shorter movement of the lever is desired so that a slower movement of the endless conveyor is desired the hand lever 41 will be thrown forward and' through adjusting ro-d 40 and lever arms 37 and 38 land thus raise the pawl perpendicularly against the pendant lever 44 through the link 48. If the hand lever is thrown forwardly still more, the arm 39 will be swung rearwardly, the lateral pins 39awillengage the lever 44 and swing it on its fulcrum, carrying its lower end, having the roller 47 rearwardly entirely beyond the pat-h of the tappets, and thus cause what is known as the throw-off of the feed mechanism, and cause stoppage of travel of the conveyor belt.

It will th-usbe seen that I provide, simple, cheap, andY efticientmeans for varying the office of the beater cylinder 33, it is also desirable to spread manure over an area of greater width than the machine, so that fewer trips of the machine over the field will be necessary to cover the entire area with fertilizer.

This result- I secure to a very satisfactory degree by an auxiliary spreader positioned rearwardly of and slightly above the beater cylinder 33, in a position to receive the manure as delivered from said cylinder and further disintegrate and finally deliver the manure rearwardly and laterally of the machine, so that it becomes finally distributed over an area greater in width than the machine.

I therefore equip the rear end of the wagon-box with brackets, each of the brackets including the metal arms 60 which are secured at their lower ends 6l to the side batte-ns 62 by bolt 63; the arms 60 extend rearwardly and upwardly obliquely and have at their free ends bearing eyes 64, which may be simply staples riveted to the arms. These arms 60 are supported in their inclined position by the diagonal brace rods 65 rigidly at one end to the battens 62 and bolted or `riveted at their lower ends to said arms 60 as at 66.

In the eyes or bearings 64- are journaled the ends of a shaft 67 by means of the gudgeons 68, and one end of the shaft carries a sprocket wheel 69 which is engaged by a sprocket belt 70 driven from a sprocket on the shaft of the beater and distributer cylinder 33.

This auxiliary spreader in addition to the shaft comprises a number o-f sheet metal blades which are arranged in a plurality of pairs or sets each blade is of an irregular or trapezoidal shape, and each pair is supported by and connected to the shaft 67 by steel brackets which comprise the bent arms 81 and 82 the arms 8l being flat and riveted to one face of the blades and the other arms being grooved or curved to fit the periphery of the shaft.

Each pair or set of blades incline oppositely to each other, and the pitch or set of the blades which arefpositioned substantially diametrically opposite each other with respect to the shaft, incline correspondingly.

It will be noted that the outer or free ends of the blades converge tov a point and that these ends incline away from the transverse center of the shaft and also outwardly and away from the longitudinal center ofrsaid shaft. Furthermore the blades of each set are inclined oppositely with respect to each other in oppositedirections from, a common axis. VTo prevent the'materiz'il from being thrown upwardlyyand vdirectly tol the rear lthe end opposite the pointed end is provided with a curved lip v83 which overhangs the working face .of the blade, and one long"sidey .is also provided with a similar lip @similare ly shaped and overha'nging thework face.l This construction practically provides thev working .facev of blades with a shallow pocket. pair lie in planes substantially perpendicular to each other. j

By the particular shape and relative arrangement of the blades a widely lateral spreading and scattering of the manure is secured, and by inclining the blades with In other words the blades ofeaclr respect to the radial axis of the shaft the catching surface of the blades is increased, and hence the manure is distributed over an area greater in width than the machine.

I claim:

1. In a ratchet feed mechanism for manure spreaders, the combination of a ratchet wheel and its actuating pawl or dog, a series of cam tappets,-and means for imparting# a feedingmovement to said ratchet wheel and pawl, said means including an arcuate pendant lever interposed between said cam tappets and said pawl, and having slidable engagement with said pawl.

2. In a device as herein characterized the combination of a ratchet wheel, a flexibly mounted pawl or dog engaging said-ratchet v wheel, an oscillatory arcuate lever adapted for slidable engagement throughout its arc with said pawl or dog, a series of tappets `for actuating said lever at its free end, and

means for adjusting the point of engagement of said dog or pawl with the arc of said lever.

3. In a device as herein characterized, the combination of aratchet wheel, a flexibly mounted pawl or dog engaging said wheel,`

a retrograde movement preventing 'pawl en gaging said ratchet wheel and having a re-v silient connection with said first-mentioned pawl or dog, an oscillatory arcuate lever pivotally mounted at one end and adapted to engage throughout its arc said flexibly mounted ratchet actuating pawl, cam tappets for actuating said lever at its free end, and l means for adjusting the point of engagement of said pawl or dog along the arc of Said lever. f

4. In mechanism for lthe Vpurpose de-` scribed, the combination of a ratchet'wheel and its actuating pawl or dog, an oscillatory arc-shaped lever engaging said pawl or dog, a multi-armed lever, the fulcra of the oscillating lever and the multi-armed lever being coaxial, a. link connection between one of the arms and the aforesaid pawl or dog, an adjusting rod attached to another arm of the lever, to regulate the throw of the pavvl, means carried by still another lever arm and adapted to engage the oscillatory lever and swing it out of action, and a star cam tappet Wheel adapted to engage the .free end of the oscillatory lever to impart successive movements to the said lever and the ratchet actuating paWl or dog.

5.111 mechanism for the purpose specified, the combination of a ratchet Wheel and its actuating paw] or dog, an oscillatory pendent curved lever, a star cam Wheel adapted to successively engage the lower end of said lever and impart a swinging movement thereto, said leverengaging in its curved portion said ratchet actuating paWl7 and means for vertically7 adjusting thc point of engagement of said lever and pawl, said means including a link flexibly connected to said pavvl and a lever arm, the fulcrum of said arm and oscillatory lever being coaxial.

NICHOLAS HENRY BLOOM. 

